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Dr. Oluwatobi Sarah Otun

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Present

University of the Witwatersrand

Johannesburg

South Africa

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Dr. Oluwatobi Sarah Otun is an accomplished post-doctoral fellow at the Protein Structure-Function Research Unit, School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. She has a robust academic background and extensive research experience in microbiology, plant science, food science, molecular biology, and protein biochemistry.

Dr. Otun's academic journey began with a B.Sc. in Microbiology from Lagos State University, Nigeria. She then earned her M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Life Sciences from the University of South Africa, where her unique research focus was the transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic profiling of the phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Her thesis and subsequent research have significantly contributed to our understanding of this fungus, setting her apart in the scientific community. Throughout her career, Dr. Otun has made significant contributions to the scientific community, as evidenced by her impressive portfolio of peer-reviewed publications. She has authored approximately fifteen scientific papers and has more than ten articles pending publication. Her research primarily explores protein structure and function, antibiotic resistance mechanisms, and microorganisms' role in various environments.

Dr. Otun's commitment to scientific advancement extends beyond her research. She is dedicated to mentoring and supervising the next generation of scientists, a role she enthusiastically takes on. Her ability to foster a collaborative and supportive research environment, as evidenced by her co-supervision of several Honours and Master’s students, has significantly impacted the scientific community, showcasing her leadership skills and dedication to the development of future scientists. Dr. Otun's expertise in microbiology extends to practical applications as well. She has worked as a microbiology researcher at the Council of Science and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria, South Africa, where she applied her research findings to real-world problems. Additionally, her experience as a medical laboratory technician at Ayodele Medical Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, further enhanced her understanding of the clinical implications of her research. These roles have equipped her with a diverse skill set that spans both academic and clinical settings, enhancing her credibility and the real-world relevance of her research.

Her research achievements have been recognised with numerous awards and fellowships, including funding from the University of the Witwatersrand Research Foundation, the Scottish Funding Council’s Global Challenges Research Fund, and the South African National Research Foundation. Dr. Otun is also an active member of several professional organisations, including the South African Society of Microbiology and the African Phytopathology Group, where she contributes to advancing the field of microbiology and plant pathology.

With a passion for scientific discovery and a commitment to making a positive impact, Dr. Oluwatobi Sarah Otun continues to push the boundaries of research in biotechnology and biomedical engineering. She is poised to make significant contributions to the field as an editorial board member of the WebLog Journal of Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering.

  • Microbial Pathogenesis
  • Protein Biochemistry
  • Plant-Microbe Interactions
  • Metabolomics and Proteomics
  • Biotechnology Applications
  • Food Microbiology
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Natural Product Biosynthesis
  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Otun, S., Achilonu, I., & Graca, R. (2024). Combating Aminoglycoside Resistance: From Structural and Functional Characterisation to Therapeutic Challenges with RKAAT. Current Protein & Peptide Science. DOI: 10.2174/0113892037278814231226104509.
  • Jeje, O., Otun, S., Aloke, C., & Achilonu, I. (2024). Exploring NAD+ metabolism and NNAT: Insights from structure, function, and computational modeling. Biochimie. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biochi.2024.01.002.
  • Otun, S.O. and Ntushelo, K., (2024). A data catalogue of alcohol dehydrogenases in the genome of a tissue macerating Pectobacterium brasiliense isolated from potato in South Africa. Data in Brief, 52, p.109918.
  • Otun, S., & Achilonu, I. (2023). Exploring the Complexity of Protein Structure Determination Through X-ray Diffraction. Journal of Plant Science and Phytopathology, 7(3), 124-132. DOI: 10.29328/journal.jpsp.1001117.
  • Otun, Sarah Oluwatobia,*; Lerma-Escalera, Jordy Alexisb,c; Ntushelo, Khayalethud; Achilonu, Ikechukwua. Protein engineering for natural product biosynthesis: expanding diversity for therapeutic applications. Journal of Bio-XResearch ():10.1097/JBR.0000000000000141, August 17, 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/JBR.0000000000000141.
  • Otun S, Achilonu I, Ntushelo K (2023). The secondary metabolites profiling of the phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum. J Plant Sci Phytopathol.; 7: 027-039. DOI: 10.29328/journal.jpsp.1001102.
  • Sarah Otun and Ikechukwu Achilonu, (2022). The prevalence of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum in Southern Africa, Current Trends in Microbiology, Vol. 16, 75 – 86’. http://www.researchtrends.net/tia/title_issue.asp?id=41&in=0&vn=16&type=3.
  • Otun, S., Escrich, A., Achilonu, I., Rauwane, M., Lerma-Escalera, J.A., Morones-Ramírez, J.R. and Rios-Solis, L., (2022). The future of cassava in the era of biotechnology in Southern Africa. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, pp.1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/07388551.2022.2048791.
  • Otun Sarah, Ikechukwu Achilonu, (2022). Recent advances in Plant–Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Associations and Their Application to Cassava Crops. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Agriculture-New Insights, IntechOpen. ISBN: 978-1-83768-089-4. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/84260.
  • Otun, S. and Ntushelo, K., (2020). Proteomic analysis of the phytogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Journal of Chromatography B, 1144, p.122053.
  • Otun, S. and Ntushelo, K., (2019). How to knock down a plant; the three weapons of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Journal of Biological Sciences, 19(4), pp.300-313. 10.3923/jbs.2019.300.313.
  • Otun, Oluwatobi Sarah; Achilonu, Ikechukwu; Ntushelo, Khayalethu. Proteomics analysis of the phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: a narrative review. Journal of Bio-XResearch: September 2022 - Volume 5 - Issue 3 - p 112-117. doi: 10.1097/JBR.0000000000000130.
  • Pooe, K., Thulo, M., Makumbe, H., Akumadu, B., Otun, O., Aloke, C. and Achilonu, I., 2022. Biophysical description of Bromosulfophthalein interaction with the 28-kDa glutathione transferase from Schistosoma japonicum. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, p.111524.
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